We live in a do-all, see-all, be-all world nowadays. Even as new research is proving that hyperstimulation and overcommitting disrupt our cognitive abilities and stress our bodies out, it’s hard to say no to the myriad things that compete for our time and attention. After all, we’ll be an ace at work if we take on that extra project, right? And we’d hate to miss out on the four birthday parties happening this weekend—already RSVP'd! And what kind of friend would we be if we didn’t help our dear friend move out of her sixth-floor walk-up apartment? So we try to jam it all into our calendars, and before we know it we’re exhausted, depleted, and maybe even sick

So, what would happen if you started paring down your commitments? Imagine a world in which you said yes only to the things that really mattered, based on your own set of golden priorities. The secret to this shift lies in your ability to say no. There is a fine art to this, and learning exactly how to do it is a downright game-changer.